East Stroudsburg's meager buffer won't protect downstream residents

Wednesday

Jun 27, 2007 at 12:01 AMJun 27, 2007 at 1:13 AM

Editor, the Record:

Editor, the Record:

I am disappointed that the East Stroudsburg Borough Council may adopt a 51-foot buffer zone around its waterways. I live downstream from undeveloped property on the Sambo Creek watershed. I think that council should enact a reasonable 150-foot buffer to help protect my East Stroudsburg residence. It is not just about me. What about people downstream in other communities? Portland, for example. Is there no responsibility to those residents?

It is true that there is only a small amount of undeveloped property left in the borough. The amount of land in question has no bearing on what is right or wrong. Poor land use practices cost not only individuals; they ultimately cost all taxpayers in one form or another.

I think that council should have learned the right lessons from the flooding that occurs at Flory Pond and their own loss along the Brodhead Creek.

So much of what we do as individuals amounts to only a drop in the bucket. However, the cumulative effect of many adds up to a real difference. As an example, what if everyone in the borough stopped recycling? That would certainly create a difference in the amount a trash going into landfills.

It is time for council to get on board and adopt a 150-foot buffer zone. If nothing else, this points out the need for a responsible county-wide ordinance.

Just because the area has grown tremendously does not mean that we shouldn't protect the property of all. Just last year homes and property were lost at Buttonwood Park. On top of that loss is the damage to the private road leading through the park to Brodhead Creek. The borough, PPL and East Stroudsburg School District spent many months driving heavy equipment over the road without an offer of compensation to the owners.

HOMER G. LEE

East Stroudsburg

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